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Russian oil supply to Slovakia, Czech halted
9/1/2007 10:26

The oil supply delivered from Russia through the Friendship pipeline via Belarus to Slovakia and the Czech Republic stopped yesterday evening due to a price dispute between Russia and Belarus.

The stoppage occurred at around 08:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), Slovakia's transpetrol company Stefan Czucz said.

Kristina Felova, a spokeswoman of Slovak oil company Slovnaft, said that the stoppage of oil from Russia will not affect Slovakia's oil supply and the company will guarantee the domestic supply of oil.

Slovakia has stockpiles of crude and fuel sufficient to cover demand for 70 days.

On the same day, the Czech industry ministry said that the Czech Republic will not be jeopardized by the disruption, which also happened in the country.

The Czech government has already prepared for the current situation, Industry Minister Martina Rimana said.

Czech has 102 days of national oil reserves.

The pipeline carries 90 percent of Slovakia's and 70 percent of the Czech Republic's crude oil demand.

Deliveries through the pipeline from Russia to some other European countries were also halted on Monday in the wake of the price dispute between Russia and Belarus.



Xinhua